Center-board for vessels



(No Model.)

A. F. PARKER.

CENTER BOARD FOR VESSELS.

No. 246,546. Patented Aug. 30,1881.

W w m: 7%

iZiiinesses:

N. PETERS. pmxmL-m n hw. Wnhinglon. 0.0.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREYV F. PARKER, OF MIDDLETOVVN, CONNECTICUT.

CENTER-BOARD FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,546, dated August 30, 1881. Application filed March l9, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW F. PARKER, a citizen of the United States, resident at Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Center-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following t obeafull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. V

The drawing is a representation of a seetional view.

This invention relates to improvements in center-boards for vessels.

The object of the invention is to prevent leakage and to enable a vessel to lie closer to the wind.

The invention consists in a center-board arranged as hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawing, A is the well, secured to the bottom, as usual, but having a closed top, a, with hole a for the rope to work the board.

B is the center-board, having curved rear end, 1), straight bottom I), nearly straight front end, b and rounded corners I), a strip of metal running around the edge, as shown. This center-board is placed in the well and attached to the closed top by the links or rods C C.

Two eyes, 0 c, are secured to the under side of the top a, and about a third of the length apart. 'Two others, 01 d, are secured to the top of the board, apart a little more than halt the distance between eyes 00, though the precise distance apart of the eyes in each pair is not material, except that those on the board shall be closer than the other two. Rod C is loosely connected to eyes 0 d, and rod C to eyes 0 d. This allows the board to come up snug inside in the well, the rods C Clying up between the top of the board and that of the well.

D is the rope for operating the board, leading from the heel up through the hole a; ora rod or chain may be used. The board, when necessary, is allowed to drop the different lengths of the rods C C, allowing it to come into position for use. The construction indicated avoids the use of a bolt where a leak would be made, and also gives more board forward, so that a vessel can lie closer to the wind.

When the board is hoisted nearly up, its bottom edge comes in line with the keel, which gives a continuous keel fore-and-aft to sea-going vessels.

I elaim In a vessel, the closed wellA, having its top a provided with the opening a, in combination with the center-board B, connected to the top a by the links or rods C C, of unequal length, and pivoted to the center'board atpoin ts nearer together than the points of attachment to the top a, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I at'fix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW F. PARKER.

Witnesses:

WILBUR A. Mo'rT, GEORGE M. BRODHEAD. 

